Clown puke change over

[WillyJ]

So... this tank has a lot of history. I obtained it from my dad when he moved up to MT. Being a complete aquarium noob at that time I transported it from his house, half full of water with fish and gravel, to my house (messy!). I then bought a couple plants, some sandy substrate (flora max, I think) and some driftwood (got a nice piece covered in moss) and filled her up.
At this point I discovered this site (thank god!) and realized my stock hood and UGF were huge faux pas. I found a cheap HOB at petco and started cycling it with the UGF, as well as adding DIY CO2 to the filter intake:


I then took a big step and ripped out the UGF. I was worried that I would have massive ammonia issues and whatnot but I only lost one barb. I also got a nice light fixture (2x24w T5HO 6700k)

I was able to find a guy on the Colorado forum who was selling an Ehiem Ecco 2232. What an awesome dude! He hooked up the filter, a bunch of liquid ferts and ton of substrate for an excellent price.

So I hooked up the filter and cycled it with the HOB for about 2 weeks, I was starting to learn a little!



Now I was really getting into it. I set up a pressurized CO2 system with the innards of my old keg-o-rator (oh the college years...) Never thought this stuff would come in handy again but the tank and regulator were perfect. I ordered a bubble counter and ceramic diffuser as well as a couple more plants and dry ferts.


Well, I finally had a good set-up, I was dosing per the EI method and thought I was happy. Until... I found a thread about a guy who had mixed neon gravel into black flourite. "Boy is that ugly... hey, come to think about it, I have some pretty freaking ugly gravel in my tank. Sure isn't the natural look I'm going for..." Thus the quest to remove the clown puke ensued. I got some super helpful advice from members of this forum and proceeded to remove the gravel. I replaced it with the substrate the guy hooked me up with (think it's mixed flourite, but not sure). Again I was worried about ammonia levels and whatnot, but this time it was fine, no losses


This is the tank as is today. I am open to (and hoping for) any suggestions and/or constructive criticism. I'll update as stuff starts to grow in more.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

It has made a great transformation! What size tank is it?

[macclellan]

nice transition!

[TeamTeal]

looks like you know what you are doing now

[jreich]

what an improvement! looks much much better.

[WillyJ]

Thx guys, its a 20gal high (24x12x16).

[WillyJ]

I wish I could get it out of this cabinet, I love seeing all sides of a tank. Unfortunately I don't really have room anywhere else.

[wearsbunnyslippers]

looking much better!

[WillyJ]

Guess I should have put this in the first post...

-20gal high (24x12x16) Aqueon tank
-2x24w T5HO 6700k
-Ehiem Ecco 2232 canister filter
-Unknown brand of heater
-5lb CO2 tank, regulator, needle valve, bubble counter, glass/ceramic diffuser
-EI fert (1/4 tsp KNO3 3x/week, 1/16 tsp KH2PO3 3x/week, 1/16 tsp K2SO4 3x/week. 1/16 tsp Plantex CSM+B and 1/32 tsp Iron on off days)
-Mixed Flourite (I think) substrate

Flora: Java Moss, Amazon Sword, Micro Sword, glosso, Water Wisteria, some sort of Val that was in the tank when I got it. Also just added a Tiger Lotus bulb

Fauna: Tiger barbs, pair of Pea Puffers, 3 Otos, 3 Kuhlis, Amano Shrimp, MTS (I know...overstocked)

[WillyJ]

one week later:


Had no ammonia problems and everyone seems pretty happy. I am getting some staghorn (I think) algae. The otos are doing an okay job of keeping it under control but I do have to pull some out almost every day.

I love my puffers

[WillyJ]

Night vision

[WillyJ]

The cabinet